A Lover's Quarrel With The Evangelical Church

I recently had the chance to read the book "A Lover's Quarrel with the Evangelical Church" by Warren Cole Smith. At first I was excited about the book and getting to dig into it to find out what was wrong with the church today, but ultimately I ended up being disappointed with the content. While I seem to be drawn by literature that critiques the church and Christians in general, saying the things that need to be said but most are too afraid to say, this book ended up being an exception. I probably didn't like this book because the criticism was geared toward the styles of church I have an affinity toward, but I really tried to read beyond that and to listen to what he was saying.

This book certainly provided food for thought, and there are several pieces of information that I'm glad I read. However, much of the book sounded like the author airing some grudges because of the way things are being done. I believe it was Brian McLaren in his book "More Ready Than You Realize" who stated that so many Christians build up walls between themselves and the things they wish to change simply by having an attitude of self righteousness [my paraphrase]. I felt the author approached the subject matter with a certain piousness that did more to make me defensive than to help me see the "error of my ways".

I feel that the author had good intentions, but often picked extreme examples to illustrate how bad things have gotten. While I don't agree with everything the author had to say, I do believe that his points were valid, from a standpoint that newer styles of churches should watch out for some of these pitfalls that others have fallen into. Often times these churches are walking a line that needs to be walked carefully. That being said these churches aren't all bad, and I believe the author could have made an effort to see the things they are doing that do work. Overall I wasn't impressed with this book, and probably won't be recommending it to my friends.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Later,

David